Chapter Forty-Four: As Though Reborn

"Your Highness... Her Ladyship has not yet recovered her health. You must ensure she does not find out about Madam Feng."

Chunchan offered repeated instructions to the Prince along the way as she escorted him from the study back to Wutong Courtyard.

Li Tinghan nodded to show he understood, deliberately straightening his robes just before stepping through the threshold.

"Your Highness," Shen Tuabai said, sitting up in bed to look at the figure on the other side of the screen.

Li Tinghan cleared his throat. "This Prince knows you wish to ask about Madam Feng. Rest assured, the moment we returned to Chang'an, I sent someone to Lingzhou to settle Madam Feng properly. She is doing well now."

Shen Tuabai let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Your Highness."

The room was filled with the gentle wisps of burning incense. The two gazed at each other through the screen, momentarily at a loss for words.

Feeling uncomfortable, Shen Tuabai issued a dismissal, "If Your Highness has nothing else..."

"Who says this Prince has nothing else?" Li Tinghan interrupted in a domineering tone, his voice softening a moment later. "Master Liaoji can be considered the savior of both you and A-ning. I wish to invite him to attend A-ning's full-month celebration."

Hearing that name, Shen Tuabai could not help but frown, though she was immediately distracted by another name. "A-ning? Is that our daughter's name?"

Hearing Shen Tuabai's words, Li Tinghan instantly looked refreshed. "Yes, our daughter. This Prince hopes she will live a life of peace and tranquility."

Then, Li Tinghan asked cautiously, "Do you like this name?"

Shen Tuabai curved her lips into a smile. "I like it."

While the meaning behind the name was wonderful, she utterly despised Liaoji. "Must Your Highness invite that monk?"

Li Tinghan finally sensed something was amiss. "You seem to harbor a great deal of prejudice against Master Liaoji. Did he do something improper?"

Shen Tuabai fell silent, suddenly unsure whether she should share the past with him.

"If..."

"This Prince has another matter..."

They spoke at the same time, and Shen Tuabai gracefully yielded. "Your Highness, speak first."

"I have another matter and would like to ask for your counsel." In the past, Li Tinghan would never have discussed outside affairs with Shen Tuabai.

Because she had merely been a lowly concubine who needed his protection to survive well. Yet, after the events in Lingzhou, Li Tinghan discovered that was not the case.

If plunged into absolute despair, Shen Tuabai would undoubtedly survive better than he. She was like wild grass, always able to find the most suitable way to endure.

Looking somewhat embarrassed, Li Tinghan said, "Prime Minister Cui has been implicated in a treasonous plot. Her Majesty has yet to make a decision on the matter, and I dare not plead with her on his behalf."

"It's just that Wen niang and I had our marriage betrothed long ago. I cannot bear to watch her eventually follow Prime Minister Cui into exile in some bitter, desolate land and suffer. Therefore, I intend to welcome her into the Prince's Manor as quickly as possible, before Her Majesty issues an imperial decree."

Shen Tuabai slowly closed her eyes, the light in them fading to gray inch by inch.

Yet Li Tinghan continued, "What do you think of this idea?"

What did she think? Had Li Tinghan not been a prince, Shen Tuabai would have opened her mouth and cursed him outright.

He was the last remaining legitimate son of the late emperor and the current sovereign, the sole orthodox heir to the Great Ye Dynasty. Even she, a woman from the Directorate of Music, knew how sensitive his identity was.

Yet he still intended to wade into the treacherous muddy waters of the Cui family's treason just for Cui Xiwen? Was he desperately afraid the Emperor did not suspect him of plotting a rebellion?

Yet Shen Tuabai also knew that since Li Tinghan had asked, his mind was already made up. To voice opposition now would simply be courting humiliation. "Whatever Your Highness wishes to do, do as you please."

Li Tinghan said, "I simply did not know how to broach the subject with Her Majesty, which is why I came to discuss a strategy with you."

Shen Tuabai sighed. She hated the Cui family with a passion, wishing she could have them all executed at a single word from the Empress. She had no energy to scheme for them.

However, she was currently bound to Li Tinghan. If she let him anger the Empress unchecked, she would inevitably be implicated when Her Majesty's wrath fell.

Consequently, Shen Tuabai engaged in a cordial and amicable conversation with Li Tinghan. Hearing her words, Li Tinghan's eyes lit up with brilliance, and he resolved to speak precisely as she instructed.

Believing this line of reasoning to be flawless, Li Tinghan was eager to enter the palace immediately. Only halfway out did he remember, "What was it you wanted to say just now?"

"This concubine has forgotten as well. I will tell Your Highness when it comes to me."

Without a shred of suspicion, Li Tinghan happily departed for the palace.

Shen Tuabai collapsed onto the bed, letting her tears slide down the corners of her eyes. Just moments ago, she had actually considered confessing everything to Li Tinghan.

"Your Ladyship, what did the Prince say to you? Why are you crying? Madam Feng is perfectly fine, please do not listen to the Prince's nonsense! Weeping during the confinement period is harmful to your vitality," Chunchan fretted anxiously.

Chunchan remained entirely oblivious to the flaws in her own words, but Shen Tuabai's mind was not on her at the moment, so she paid it no heed.

Shen Tuabai pulled the quilt over her head and wrapped herself tightly within it. "I am tired and wish to sleep. You may leave."

Tucking the quilt around her, Chunchan left with backward glances every few steps.

In the evening, news came from the palace: Li Tinghan had somehow infuriated the Empress with his words, resulting in an order for three days of confinement.

Simultaneously, an imperial edict was dispatched to the Cui residence. All male members of the Cui family above the age of ten were exiled to Bashu, the female relatives were reduced to the status of lowly servants, and those under ten, regardless of gender, were sent directly into the Inner Bureau.

Shen Tuabai heard this news early the following morning, entirely unsurprised by the outcome.

Every single word of the advice she had given Li Tinghan was a plea for Cui Xiwen, with many phrases deliberately crafted to provoke the Empress.

Her Majesty was far too astute not to recognize that the phrasing clearly did not belong to Li Tinghan's usual manner of speaking; it could only have been taught by someone else.

As for who taught it? Naturally, whoever stood to gain from it was the instructor.

Cutting weeds without pulling up the roots only allows the spring breeze to blow them back to life.

From the very moment the Empress decided to strike against the Cui family, Cui Xiwen lost any possibility of becoming the Princess of Yan.

If Li Tinghan had requested her merely as a menial scrubber, Her Majesty might possibly have turned a blind eye.

Yet the same logic applied to her as well. She would certainly not offer that suggestion to Li Tinghan; it was best if Cui Xiwen were dead, or at the very least, banished far away.

Furthermore, even if she had spoken, Li Tinghan would never have believed her, likely assuming instead that she was deliberately humiliating his former benefactor.

That being the case, there was even less need for her to sow discord in Li Tinghan's heart.

As for welcoming her into the Prince's Manor as a primary consort, one could only conclude that Li Tinghan was utterly naive.

Yet she had ultimately underestimated Cui Xiwen's place in Li Tinghan's heart. On the very night her confinement month ended, Shen Tuabai required three full tubs of bathwater.

To describe it in four words—it felt like a new lease on life.

Just as she was discussing tomorrow's attire with her maids, a dejected Li Tinghan arrived. Having just been released from confinement, he looked utterly desolate.

Most importantly, he was exceedingly unkempt, having failed even to shave his beard. Shen Tuabai had no desire for him to appear before the guests looking like this tomorrow, as though he harbored some deep grievance regarding A-ning.